The HBS Club of Singapore and HBS Club of London cosponsored a lively virtual discussion, in late September to explore the ways companies can drive social impact in the context of global social and environmental crisis. The program featured speakers Rebecca Henderson, the John and Natty McArthur University Professor at HBS, and Sir Ronald Cohen (MBA 1969), who talked about their latest books, Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire, and IMPACT: Reshaping Capitalism to Drive Real Change, respectively.

Presented in partnership with HBS Alumni Programs, the HBS Business and Environment Initiative (BEI), and the Social Enterprise Initiative (SEI), the virtual event was held on two different dates to accommodate a combined global audience of close to 1,400 alumni. HBS Professor George Serafeim moderated for the London event, while Senior Lecturer Vikram Gandhi moderated for the Singapore event.

The conversation addressed questions like, “Can a system designed to generate profit really make a difference against the massive social and environmental problems that we face? Can firms really do well and do good? And if we believe profit, purpose and social returns are not in conflict, how do we put that theory into action as a corporate executive, entrepreneur, or investor?”

Cissy Chen (MBA 2019), who helped organize the event for the HBS Club of Singapore, said turnout was “incredible,” and participants went away impressed.

“I was excited to hear from Professor Henderson, Sir Ronald Cohen and Professor Gandhi,” says Chen. “Their knowledge of how the world is changing and their ideas on what can be done to improve it was very motivational and I think sets a great roadmap for the future.” She added that this was not an uncommon note among others who attended and reached out to her.

Julie Mulcahy (GMP 24, 2018), who helped organize the HBS Club of London’s event, added that Professor Serafeim led a very engaging conversation with the authors which sparked “a lot of thoughtful comments and questions in the Zoom chat box).”

The chats for both events were active throughout the 75-minute conversations with alumni using the topic to network over their interest in climate change and social impact work.

Mark Niehaus, president and executive director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, joined the HBS Club of Wisconsin on October 6 for a virtual discussion about the shifting paradigm of orchestra management during the COVID-19 crisis. Moderated by club board member and past president Karen Hung (MBA 1998), the conversation also explored the ways the performing arts organization pivoted to a mostly virtual season to reach its audience while completing the two-year, $140 million restoration and expansion of the former Warner Grand Theatre, now known as the Bradley Symphony Center.

“It was wonderful to hear Mark give a history of the building and the MSO, describe how transformative this project has been for the region, and talk about the sustainability of the organization,” says Hung, who also serves on the board of the MSO. “He’s a tremendous leader and he’s really grown in the role.”

Niehaus was appointed director of the MSO in 2012 right out of the orchestra, where he played principal trumpet. In 2015, the HBS Club of Wisconsin awarded him a Social Enterprise Scholarship to attend the Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management (SPNM) program at HBS.

“The MSO project will redefine what performing arts can do for the city and the region,” says Hung. “It’s bringing vitality to the neighborhood around it. Mark talked about the historic preservation of the building, the art deco, the tile work and murals. They’re modernizing the staging, the acoustics design, the technology and there’s a new wing with a spectacular staircase and an atrium for events, with a huge skylight and so many other architectural details.”

Niehaus gave a guided video tour of the new spaces, which is slated for completion by the end of the year.

To meet the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, Hung says the organization made the decision to reimagine their programming “based on what we value: life, art and beauty.”

Instead of going “dark” as many arts organizations have done, Niehaus said the MSO made decisions to help their musicians.

With a goal to open the new hall in January, the programming will be designed with social distancing and other safety protocols in place. Hung says that will mean having smaller gatherings, spaced seating, and symphonic programs that allow musicians proper spacing, and the elimination of choral performances in the short term.

“We talked about the transformation as a changing business model: to deliver in the midst of crisis, to go forward,” adds Hung. “Even with these challenges, we need to continue to pursue our big dreams.”

Melanie Maddux (MBA 2004), the club’s vice president for programming, says the virtual program drew nearly two dozen alumni from HBS and the Kellogg School of Management alumni club, a frequent partner for events. Guests were encouraged to bring a cocktail that commemorated the 1930s architecture of the symphony center. She adds the MSO will partner with the HBS Club of Wisconsin to offer alumni from Harvard, HBS and Kellogg small private tours of the space in December.

More than 40 HBS alumni from seven alumni clubs joined the HBS Club of Chicago in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month on October 6, with a webinar featuring social entrepreneur, public speaker and diversity advocate Claudia Romo Edelman.

Moderated by Steve Schaumberger (MBA 1988), chair of Strategic Partnerships for the club, the talk centered on the Hispanic Star campaign, a project of Edelman’s foundation, We Are All Human. The New York-based nonprofit is dedicated to advancing diversity, inclusion, and equity by producing regional and local events, conducting research, and creating media content that raises the visibility of Hispanic Americans across industries.

Edelman, who previously led successful marketing efforts for humanitarian organizations including the Global Fund, UNICEF and the World Economic Forum, is now focused on the Hispanic Star campaign, a multi-channel marketing and outreach effort aimed at showcasing and amplifying the significant contributions of the Hispanic community to the United States.

The campaign, according to Edelman, is intended to raise awareness of the fact that the Hispanic community is not only “an integral part of the American culture but also an undeniable force shaping its future.”

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